The Video Game History Foundation, a "non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and teaching the history of videogames", has published a study that it says shows most older games are now beyond the reach of players, unless they're willing to in most cases pirate them.
"87% of classic videogames released in the United States are critically endangered. Just 13% of videogame history is being represented in the current marketplace. In fact, no period of videogame history defined in this study even cracked 20% representation."
The methodology used a randomised sample of 1,500 games released before 2010, "Roughly the year when digital game distribution started to take off." They also collected targeted data on different consoles, so in total over 4,000 games were included in the study.
This story is from the October 2023 edition of PC Gamer.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2023 edition of PC Gamer.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
SUNDOWNER
Wipe out a cult with one bullet in CHILDREN OF THE SUN
KENWAY AHEAD
Smooth sailing and pearly whites in ASSASSIN'S CREED IV BLACK FLAG
COUNTER INTUITIVE
PICK & POKE your way through this gorgeous tabletop roguelite
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Whatever happened to MULTI-GPU setups?
MICROPHONES
A good microphone can be the difference between a professional sounding triumph, or a crackly, tinny disaster
BORING PLATFORMER
In a good way! The superb drilling of PEPPER GRINDER is sublimely chaotic
MEIER'S BASTARDISATION
MILLENNIA attempts a spirited but messy coup to Civ's throne
LOOSE MORALS
BROKEN ROADS: a cerebral narrative adventure
CROWN WARS: THE BLACK PRINCE
Tactical medieval combat with a gory edge
NO REST FOR THE WICKED
One of the smartest Soulslikes I've played in a long time